Killing Monsters

[EmperorZorn]

Basically he described them almost the same way, except the creature was called the "Leshyi". There were no crows though. It was basically a forest dwelling creature that would first make sure you'd get lost in the forest before it devoured you and what not. Supposedly, my grandfather, who used to be a hunter, encounter one of them in his hunting travels. But those were all stories to scare his impressionable grand-children.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

I'm sure hearing about the "Leshyi" luring people into the forest to eat them
was more than enough to frighten a child.
And hearing this from an experienced hunter must have left quite an impression.
I myself love to read about such creatures from eastern european myth and legends.

I vote for a Ciri Wallpaper (with a hood so we cannot see her face)... Oh wait, we already have a concept art from that, don't we?

Uhm...err...put the Ciri slider to maximum !

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

CDPR used other Slavic folklore characters like kikimore, koshchey and vodyanoi in TW1. Leshen though doesn't seem to be the same as folklore leshiy, because the later is more of a forest protector, while the former is an evil corrupting monster.

 

[Kinley]

CDPR used other Slavic folklore characters like kikimore, koshchey and vodyanoi in TW1. Leshen though doesn't seem to be the same as folklore leshiy, because the later is more a forest protector, while the former is an evil corrupting monster.

Well they are going with the name Leshy, so they must have similarities.

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

They are using Leshen, not Leshiy. In TW1 they left the names unchanged if you notice. I think it indicates that this is a different character, but may be with some derivations.

 

[Kinley]

They are using Leshen, not Leshiy. In TW1 they left the names unchanged if you notice. I think it indicates that this is a different character, but may be with some derivations.

Uhm, wallpaper has "LESHY" in the link. Also this just might be a response from the Leshy to something people did? We don't know the whole story here, I expect something very intricate even if it's just a side quest.

 

[vivaxardas2015]

This Leshen reminds me Cernunnos, a Celtic horned god. Actually, he is even proto-celtic, old Indo-European. Given the sacrifices he demanded, this monster in TW3 probably was inspired by him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Some contradicting info then to what they said before, when they called the monster Leshen. The wallpaper indeed uses "Leshy". May be they are in the process of changing the names for monsters. Time will tell.

 

[Sirnaq]

They are using Leshen, not Leshiy. In TW1 they left the names unchanged if you notice. I think it indicates that this is a different character, but may be with some derivations.

In polish version on the forum everyone is calling it Leszy. Even though you can also call it Lesowik or forest grandpa.

 

[TheMorbidAtheist]

Thank you so much for sharing this. />/>

I'm sure hearing about the "Leshyi" luring people into the forest to eat them
was more than enough to frighten a child.
And hearing this from an experienced hunter must have left quite an impression.
I myself love to read about such creatures from eastern european myth and legends.

Anytime.
I am sure that "Leshen" is an English translation of "Leszy"

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

In polish version on the forum everyone is calling it Leszy.

Makes sense, it's the same as Leshiy. So who is Leshen then?

 

[Kinley]

Makes sense, it's the same as Leshiy. So who is Leshen then?

No idea, might be it was just a mistake?

 

[Sirnaq]

Leshen

Maybe they said leshen because saying Leszy in English feels clunky.

 

[EmperorZorn]

This Leshen reminds me Cernunnos, a Celtic horned god. Actually, he is even proto-celtic, old Indo-European. Given the sacrifices he demanded, this monster in TW3 probably was inspired by him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cernunnos

Maybe it's a mix of both Cernunnor and Leshiy/Leszy.
If this quest takes place on the Skellige islands your find would make a lot of sense though, because of the theme.

 

[Kinley]

Maybe they said leshen because saying Leszy in English feels clunky.

It's Leshy in English, as far as I can see at least.

On a different note, I checked out how many weekly "surprises" we would get if they released in December 2014, it adds up to 79 pieces of... something, without the ones we already have. That is a lot...

 

[Gilrond-i-Virdan]

Maybe they said leshen because saying Leszy in English feels clunky.

Well, leshiy (leshy) doesn't feels more clunky than koshchey to me It's a known character. On the other hand I've never heard of Leshen before.

 

[Kodaemon5924]

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boruta_%28mythology%29

Boruta (also called Leśny or Lešny) was a demon in the Slavic mythology. In ancient Slavic, boruta meant pine tree: according to the folklore, the god dwelled indeed in this kind of trees.

He was the lord of the woods and hunting like the god Borevit, of which he probably represents a local version, or negative incarnation, subsequent to the introduction of Christianity in the Slavic peoples. he was portrayed as an imposing figure, with horns over the head, surrounded by packs of wolves and bears.

Pretty much completely fits our guy.

Problem is, if this is the version of the leshy CDPR are going with, it somewhat contradicts both Sapkowski's lore and the Reasons of State comic (which is kind of a tie-in to the games) based on said lore. Sapkowski's descriptions suggest an animal-like monster resembling a wildcat.

 

[Kinley]

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia....%28mythology%29



Pretty much completely fits our guy.

Problem is, if this is the version of the leshy CDPR are going with, it somewhat contradicts both Sapkowski's lore and the Reasons of State comic (which is kind of a tie-in to the games) based on said lore. Sapkowski's descriptions suggest an animal-like monster resembling a wildcat.

Well it wouldn't be the first thing they retconned (see timeline).

 

[vivaxardas2015]

Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boruta_%28mythology%29



Pretty much completely fits our guy.

Problem is, if this is the version of the leshy CDPR are going with, it somewhat contradicts both Sapkowski's lore and the Reasons of State comic (which is kind of a tie-in to the games) based on said lore. Sapkowski's descriptions suggest an animal-like monster resembling a wildcat.

Yep, some sort of a horned god, lord of the hunt, is present in a lore of every European nation, be that Celtic, or Slavic, who descended from Indo-Europeans. They were vilified in Christian times, and became monsters.

About the books: may be it is called leshen just to separate it from leshy, they are different monsters after all.

 

[EmperorZorn]

Well it wouldn't be the first thing they retconned (see timeline).

The Leshen probably comes in different forms.

It's more of a spirit put together with different parts that belong to the forest,
almost like it posesses them and takes a physical form - similar to the Draug.

...ok CDPR, I tried my best here to defend you.

 

[Eadian]

Wow, I can imagine a Holiday/Christmas release for Witcher 3. That is a lot of weeks and a lot of Wallpapers, I wonder if they will throw in some game info every now and then. It would also be nice if we could get a timeline that actually makes sense. Also can't wait to see how Ciri will be used in the story.